In the book of Revelation, chapter 14, three angels appear one after the other, each with urgent calls and warnings. The angel’s third message is the most comprehensive warning and also describes the possible dramatic consequences if ignored.
Inhalt / Content
- 1 Third angel warns and announces
- 2 The message of the third angel
- 3 A whole range of descriptions
- 4 The angel speaks of beast and image
- 5 The warning of a mark
- 6 The mark is the seal of authority
- 7 The consequences of accepting the mark
- 8 Summary Message from the Third Angel
- 9 The first and second angel’s messages
Third angel warns and announces
After the appearance of the first two angels and the announcement of the warnings and calls, the third angel follows with his message. His message contains warning and announcement at the same time. The urgent warning about the dangers of wrong beliefs and actions and the dramatic consequences if the warning is ignored. The third angel completes the sequence of angelic messages. What follows is the “recipe” for dealing with the lurking dangers, Revelation 14:12:
“Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.“
The message of the third angel
The message of the third angel in Revelation 14 is significantly longer than the warning calls of the first two angels. There is a lot of important information in verses 9 to 11. They are a call and a strong warning.
And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
A whole range of descriptions
The third angel in Revelation 14 warns of a beast, an image, and the mark. At first glance there is not much to do with these terms. However, the symbolism in the prophecy of Revelation is far less mysterious than is usually portrayed. The Bible does not leave the reader in the dark when it comes to such symbolic language, because the explanations can be found elsewhere (more Infos).
The angel speaks of beast and image
The animal is a political power. Self-explanatory in Daniel 7, in which 4 animals appear one after the other. All animals represent a state power. The image is not a picture literally hung in a frame on a wall, but rather characteristics and worldviews. So God created man in His image, as can be read in Genesis 1:27:
“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.“
God did not frame man and hang him on the wall, but God created man according to His character. This lasted at least until the first fall. With the transgression of God’s law, first by Eve, then by Adam, man fell. From now on, the distinction between good and evil was relevant. For man “in the image” of God had no evil in mind.
The warning of a mark
The third angel warns against accepting the mark, or more precisely, the mark of the beast. About this mark, if it is still observed at all, there is some guesswork and some explanations that connect this message, which was written down around 2,000 years ago, with the technology of today. The language is, for example, a barcode or a chip implant.
But even a literal marking would contrast the symbolic language with the other prophetic details in the third angel’s message. Neither a literal animal nor a literal image (picutre) is meant. Therefore, this mark should also be understood as a circumscription and not as an externally visible feature. Revelation 13 describes where this mark comes from and the consequences if the mark is not accepted (more Info Mark of the Beast).
The third angel’s statement is clear. Whoever accepts this mark, either on the forehead or on the hand, will feel the full force of God’s wrath. The forehead, like the mark itself, is not to be understood literally, but as a description of thoughts or faith. “Thinking takes place” behind the forehead. Accordingly, the mark on the hand is not a mark, but rather describes the action. It is a philosophy or a conveyed heresy that is either believed (mark on the forehead) or if acted upon (mark on the hand).
Both are unacceptable because the mark comes from the beast and the beast is diametrically opposed to the will and laws of God. People will worship the beast and the image. This is clearly a religious aspect. The mark is nothing other than the seal of whose authority is recognized. Man has the choice to either accept the authority of the beast or the authority of God. Do you follow the laws of the beast, or do you remain faithful to the laws of God?
The first angel with his message called on people to exclusively worship the only, true and living Creator God.
The consequences of accepting the mark
The third angel describes it directly. Whoever chooses the mark of the beast will be given the “wine of the wrath of God” to drink. The answer to the “wine of the wrath” that the second angel already warned about. The fiery wine of God is “unmixed.” It is therefore the pure, undiluted fiery wine of anger. In other words: the train has finally left. This is the limit. The barrel has overflowed. Merciless, without mercy, no quarter.
Believing and acting according to the beast’s instructions will mean certain end for man. The third angel describes it as the “smoke of their torment” for ever and ever. This statement is not to be taken literally either. There is no such thing as an eternally burning hell with an eternally tormented soul (Info).
There will come a time when people will realize their fatal mistake. Those with this mark on their foreheads or on their hands will realize that they have been terribly deceived. The rulers of the lands, who also drank the fiery wine of Babylon’s fornication, will also become aware of their mistake. Revelation 17:16:
“And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.“
People will understand what the hour has come. But it is too late. In their desperate search for the truth of the gospel, they will have “no rest, day or night.” You won’t find it anymore.
Summary Message from the Third Angel
– Worship of the beast and his image leads to destruction
– Warning against accepting the mark of the beast
– Accepted mark leads to the wrath of God without mercy
– Worship of the beast, image, leads to eternal death
The first and second angel’s messages
The message of the first angel – Info
The message of the second angel – Info
Further information about the Three Angels’ Message – Here
Bible verses from King James Version
